Norman, Kern, Hendley & Smith All Earn Prestigious Northern Texas PGA Awards

NTPGA • September 22, 2017

DALLAS, TX - The Northern Texas PGA is pleased to announce that Brian Norman, PGA teaching professional at Gleneagles Country Club, has captured the 2017 Yamaha Golf-Car Company / Lajitas Golf Resort Player of the Year Award presented by Adventures In Golf. This is Norman's second time winning Player of the Year honors.

Norman accumulated a 346.5-point total to capture the 2017 Yamaha Golf-Car Company / Lajitas Golf Resort Player of the Year title by an 11.5-point margin over Ben Kern, PGA head professional at Diamondback Golf Club.

Norman's year included a victory at the Joyce Crane Section Championship, a 5th place finish at the Northern Texas PGA Professional Championship, a T5 finish at the TPx Communications Western Championship and a T19 finish at the Prize Possessions Eastern Championship.

The Yamaha Golf-Car Company / Lajitas Golf Resort Player of the Year Points Challenge presented by Adventures In Golf is a season-long competition that rewards the top-40 finishers in the four major individual stroke play events. The four events are the Prize Possessions Eastern Championship, TPx Communications Western Championship, NTPGA Professional Championship and the Joyce Crane Section Championship. The top 32 finishers on the 2017 Yamaha Golf-Car Company / Lajitas Golf Resort Player of the Year Points standings receive invitations into the Yamaha Golf-Car Company / Lajitas Golf Resort Match Play Championship slated for October 9-11 on the Old Course at Odessa Country Club.

Despite barely missing out on Player of the Year honors, Kern did, however, capture the 2017 Ben Hogan / NTPGA Stroke Play Average Award with a stroke average of 70.25 for eight rounds. The Ben Hogan / NTPGA Stroke Play Scoring Average Award is presented to the Section member compiling the lowest overall adjusted scoring average in the Open Division for the Eastern Championship, Western Championship, NTPGA Professional Championship and Section Championship. He shot five sub-par rounds in the four individual majors carding three eagles and 35 birdies. This is Kern’s first time winning this award.

The Ben Hogan / NTPGA Stroke Play Average Award requires a minimum of six rounds in the four major individual stroke play events. Again, the four events are the Prize Possessions Eastern Championship, TPx Communications Western Championship, NTPGA Professional Championship and the Joyce Crane Section Championship.

Also with the 2017 season wrapping up, Stuart Hendley, PGA director of instruction at Grapevine Golf Course, and Bruce Smith, PGA director of instruction at Black Belt Golf Academy, share the 2017 OMEGA Senior Points Challenge Award. This marks Hendley and Smith's first time winning this honor. They both accumulated a 325-point total to become co-champions.

They will be the top seeds leading six other seniors into the Senior Division at the season-ending Yamaha Golf-Car Company / Lajitas Golf Resort Match Play Championship.

Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour to PGA Professional: Spencer Dillard’s Journey to Success

By Sarah Jordan • February 11, 2025
Spencer Dillard’s rise from a young golfer to a devoted PGA of America Golf Professional is a story of passion and purpose. His love for the game began when he was gifted a Tiger Wood’s golf video game as a kid. Spencer, who is now an Assistant Golf Professional at Preston Trail Golf Club, reflects on a journey shaped by the Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour. Spencer’s golfing journey began at the age of seven when his parents enrolled him in a small golf camp in McKinney, Texas. A year later, he discovered the Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour and started competing in tournaments. These early experiences helped him develop both his skills and excitement for the game. Spencer’s first experience on the junior tour was memorable. “I think I shot 72 for my very first [Prep Tour] event,” Dillard shares. “By the end of that year, I shot a 46. I was so happy to go from shooting a 72 for nine holes to [shooting] in the 40s.” 

Northern Texas PGA Celebrates Award Winners, Conducts 57th Annual Meeting

By Molly Rawlins • February 3, 2025
FORT WORTH, TX – The Northern Texas PGA held their annual Awards Banquet on Sunday, February 2, at River Crest Country Club. The banquet celebrated the 2024 NTPGA award winners, which included Northern Texas PGA Golf Professional of the Year, the Section's highest award, won by Neil Lockie, PGA director of golf at Dallas National Golf Club. This is the highest honor given annually to a Northern Texas PGA Member, and is awarded for qualities of leadership, strong moral character and a substantial record of service to the NTPGA as well as the game of golf. The complete list of award winners can be found HERE . Congratulations to all!

Northern Texas PGA Receives 2025 Herb Graffis Award

By Sarah Jordan • January 22, 2025
Today, our Section was selected as the 2025 Herb Graffis Award recipient! The award is given annually to one of the 41 PGA of America Sections for tireless dedication to growing the game of golf and furthering player-development programming in the community. Thank you to all of our PGA of America Golf Professionals who are involved in so many of our Foundation programs, helping us to impact lives in the communities we serve in North Texas!  Led by President Cameron Doan, PGA, and Executive Director Kelly Gilley, PGA, the Section is backed by a membership of more than 1,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals who are employed at more than 300 facilities. The Section’s mission is to promote the enjoyment and involvement in the game of golf and to contribute to its growth by providing services to golf professionals and the golf industry. The NTPGA’s success is fueled by the Northern Texas PGA Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt organization dedicated to promoting and growing the game of golf among diverse groups of kids in North Texas, and instilling in them the positive, character-developing traits for which the game is known. Annually, approximately 10,000 children and their families are impacted through the Foundation’s full circle of programs and services. Today, based on the three key pillars of the PGA of America REACH Foundation—Youth, Military, Diverse populations—as well as pillars for college scholarships, internships and inclusion, the Foundation reaches a greater audience to promote and grow the game. The centerpiece of the Foundation’s golf programming is the Ronny Golf Park, a first-of-its-kind facility that features a two-acre, lighted golf park made entirely of fully synthetic turf. It can be enjoyed rain or shine, day or night. It is designed with junior golfers in mind, and led by the Section’s PGA-led staff, who offer a variety of programs for children ages 3-14. The Section will be formally recognized again later this year when the PGA of America hosts its Annual Meeting at PGA Frisco in November. Congratulations to all of the 2025 PGA of America award recipients! A full list can be found HERE .

PGA Jr. League #GameChanger Award Winners Honored at 2025 PGA Show

By Sarah Jordan • January 21, 2025
At this year's PGA Show, eight Northern Texas PGA Members and Associates were recognized as #GameChanger Award recipients! The #GameChanger Awards celebrate PGA Jr. League Coaches who go above and beyond to grow the game. The awards honor the 25 largest PGA Jr. League programs in the country as well as the largest programs in each of the 41 PGA of America Sections. The ceremony at the PGA SHOW highlighted the efforts of PGA and LPGA Professionals who are leading the way for youth to enjoy and learn the game of golf. 
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